Photographer Jerry Kennelly awarded TK Whitaker award

Kennelly is known for the sale of his Stockbyte business for €110m in 2006

Entrepreneur and photographer Jerry Kennelly has been awarded the TK Whitaker Award from the Irish Academy of Management (IAM) for his “significant contributions” to Irish business.

Mr Kennelly, who launched his first business, Newsfax, in 1981, is best known for the sale of his photo archive business Stockbyte for €110 million in 2006. The company operated from Tralee until its eventual sale to Getty Images. When it was founded, Stockbyte was the first European royalty free stock photography business.

“Jerry Kennelly’s contribution to Irish life is not confined to the realm of business. He has collaborated the Press Photographers Association of Ireland in documenting the work of the charity GOAL’s work abroad and using those creative images to spread their messages through the media, exhibitions and calendars,” said Prof Margaret Linehan, the chair of IAM.

“With his co-founders he set up Endeavour in 2009, a not-for-profit technology accelerator in Kerry and the 20 participating companies now have a value of in excess of €100 million,” she added.

Mr Kennelly has continued in business and most recently launched a new facet of his online platform, Tweak.

The entrepreneur is also involved in a not-for-profit technology accelerator in Co Kerry and 20 of the participating companies now have a value in excess of €100 million.